Demography

Midsayap is geographically located on the Southwestern portion of Cotabato Province. It lays on 124“ 32‘ East longitude and 7” 11.5’ North Latitude. It is bounded on the North by the Municipality of Libungan; on the South by the Rio Grande de Mindanao; on the East by the municipalities of Aleosan and Pikit; and on the West by the Municipality of Kabuntalan.

The distance from Cotabato City to Midsayap is approximately 47 kilometers, 174 kilometers from Davao City and 64 kilometers from Kidapawan, the seat of the Provincial Government.

Midsayap has a total land area of 39,475.8881 hectares comprising 57 barangays which is 5.03% of the total land area of Cotabato province.

Some of the barangays (Southern and Western part) are along the big bodies of water, thus making it accessible by water transportation. However, due to the construction of a concrete bridge at Dulawan towards the province of Sultan Kudarat and some municipalities of Maguindanao Province, land transportation is now feasible. It is traversed by the Davao-Cotabato and the Midsayap-Makar National Highway (Gen. Santos City).

Population Density

On built-up density in the urban areas, the highest in population density is Poblacion 2 with 194.46 persons per hectare. This is followed by Poblacion 4 with 120.81 persons per hectare.

In the rural areas, the densest barangay is Damatulan which has 2,998.5 persons per hectare. This is followed by Upper Glad II with 1,297.66 persons per hectare.

Population by Age Group, Dependency Ratio

As of 2007, the population of Midsayap is predominantly young. The senior category – 60 years old and over comprises only 4.92 percent of the population or 6,072 persons. School age group is 57,280 or 46.5 percent of the population.

Segregating the abled group – which is between ages 15 to 64 and the dependent age group of 0-14 and 65 years old and over, we will have one (1) abled person supporting .5 person or a dependency ratio of 1 is to .5 (1:.5).

Literacy of Population

As of 2007, Midsayap has a literacy rate of 89.17 percent or 109,968 persons. Only 10.83 percent (13,356) are illiterate. Elementary level ranks highest at 42.61 percent (52,548) of the literate population. Secondary level is 29.76% or 36,701. Post secondary has 4.04 percent (4,982) while college undergraduates are 6.48 percent (7,991) of the literate group. The professionals or those who have acquired a bachelor’s degree and post baccalaureate degrees comprises only 6.28 percent (7,745) of the literate population.

Population by Mother Tongue

Midsayap is predominantly a Cebuano speaking municipality. Cebuanos comprise the 35 percent of the population. Next to the Cebuanos are the Muslims which is 34 percent and Ilonggo 22 percent of the total population. Ilocanos are only 7 percent. There are also Tagalog, Leyteños, Boholanos and Highlanders (Manobo and Tiruray). Muslim populated barangays are those near the boundaries of Midsayap and Dulawan specifically Tumbras, Kapinpilan, Kadingilan, Mudseng, Lomopog, Kadigasan, Damatulan, Malingao, Palongoguen, Sambulawan, Upper Labas, Lower Labas and Tugal. Ilocano dominated barangays are Agriculture, Salunayan and Patindeguen. Other barangays are Cebuano speaking areas.

Population by Religious Sects

Roman Catholics comprise the 50 percent of the Municipal population. This is seconded by Islam believers which is 31 percent of the population. Other sects that compose the 19 percent of the population are the Protestant groups – UP, SDA, INC, Baptist, Full Gospel, Aglipayan, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. (Source: 2005 RBI Survey of DILG)

Marital Status of Population

The household population of 10 years old and over shows that out of the population of 69,450, 32,228 or 46.40 percent are single and 34,433 or 49.58 percent are married. Only 3.33 percent are widowed and .00395 percent are separated.

Projected Population

With the growth rate of 2.14 percent based on the 2000 NSO population survey, the municipality at present (2007) has a total population of 123,324; 2008 – 125,963; 2009 – 128,659 and by 2010 at 131,412.

Based on the 2005 population growth rate of 1.30 percent, Midsayap has a total projected population of 114,282 on 2006; 117,273 on 2007; 121,906 on 2008; 128,370 on 2009; and, 136,934 on 2010.